[JURIST] The Iraqi Independent High Election Commission (IHEC) on Monday ordered a manual recount of Baghdad province ballots cast in the March 7 parliamentary elections, following fraud allegations. The election commissioner for the IHEC informed the public that the Baghdad recount would begin immediately, citing manipulation in voting stations. The ruling State of Law coalition of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki alleged fraud after a preliminary count showed the Iraqiya coalition of former prime minister Iyad Allawi held a slight lead. The results of the election are expected to have a significant role in the direction of the Iraqi government, as the two main factions strive for control.
Soon after the fraud allegations were first made last month, Iraqi election officials rejected the allegations and calls for a recount. Previously, the commission dismissed allegations of election fraud from a member of the European Parliament. The fraud allegations are the latest in a series of problems plaguing the elections. In February, an Iraqi appeals panel ruled that 28 of the 500 candidates previously banned due to allegations of ties to Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party could stand in the election. The initial ban was characterized by the Iraqi government as illegal, and was reversed when the panel acknowledged that it did not have to rule on all 500 candidates at once.